GOP cuts right-to-work hearing short, enrages unions

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Steamfitters Local 601 members Mike Puleo, left, and Gary Pease join labor workers for a rally in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. as state legislators hold hearings regarding a proposed right-to-work bill Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Opponents of a Republican push to turn Wisconsin into a right-to-work state began to converge on the Capitol on Tuesday for a rally and to testify against the fast-tracked measure. (AP Photo/John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal) John Hart, AP

A sign on a door of the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison, Wis. indicates items prohibited in the building as labor rallies commence ahead of proposed right-to-work legislation Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Opponents of a Republican push to turn Wisconsin into a right-to-work state began to converge on the Capitol on Tuesday for a rally and to testify against the fast-tracked measure. (AP Photo/John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal) John Hart, AP

Displaying an American flag he contends was damaged in a previous altercation with Wisconsin State Capitol police, Yon Yonsen of Janesville, Wis. joins labor workers in a rally in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol as legislators consider a proposed right-to-work bill in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart, ) John Hart, AP

Opponents of a right-to-work bill proposed by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature demonstrate during a rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) John Hart, AP

International Union of Operating Engineers members Kevin Flynn, left, and Knut Lombard, join labor workers in a rally outside the Wisconsin State Capitol as members of the Wisconsin State Legislature consider a proposed right-to-work bill in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) John Hart, AP

Opponents of a right-to-work bill proposed by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature sing the national anthem during a rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Included from left are Daithi Wolfe, violin, Prentice Berge, guitar, and Bernard Haskins, singing. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) John Hart, AP

An overflowing crowd fills a hearing room at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. as members of the Senate Labor Committee listen to testimony regarding a proposed right-to-work bill Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) John Hart, AP

Opponents of a right-to-work bill proposed by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature demonstrate during a rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) John Hart, AP

Wisconsin Democratic Representatives, Cory Mason, D-Racine, left, Andy Jorgensen, D-Milton, center, and Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, acknowledge rally attendees during a demonstration against a proposed right-to-work bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Opponents of a Republican push to turn Wisconsin into a right-to-work state began to converge on the Capitol on Tuesday for a rally and to testify against the fast-tracked measure. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart) John Hart, AP

United Steelworkers Union members Ira Livingston, left, and Mark Lewin register to speak at public hearing before the Wisconsin Senate Labor Committee as members of the state legislature consider a proposed right-to-work bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Opponents of a Republican push to turn Wisconsin into a right-to-work state began to converge on the Capitol on Tuesday for a rally and to testify against the fast-tracked measure. (AP Photo/John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal) John Hart, AP

Labor workers gather in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol as state legislators consider a proposed right-to-work bill in Madison, Wis. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Opponents of a Republican push to turn Wisconsin into a right-to-work state began to converge on the Capitol on Tuesday for a rally and to testify against the fast-tracked measure. (AP Photo/John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal) John Hart, AP

International Union of Operating Engineers members Randy Barnes, left, and Knut Lombard, join labor workers in protest chants as members of the Wisconsin State Legislature consider a proposed right-to-work bill at the state Capitol in Madison. John Hart, AP

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Opponents of a right-to-work bill proposed by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature demonstrate during a rally at the state Capitol in Madison on Tuesday.(Photo: John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal/AP)

MADISON — Republicans on the state Senate's labor committee ended a public hearing on contentious right-to-work legislation early and sent it on to the full Senate Tuesday, enraging dozens of people who had been waiting all day to speak and sparking a demonstration in front of the Senate chamber.

The daylong hearing began at 10 a.m. Sen. Stephen Nass, a Whitewater Republican and the committee's chairman, had planned for it to last until 7 p.m. But around 6:20 p.m. he announced he was ending the hearing due to what he called a "credible threat" that union members planned to disrupt the proceeding.

"We're not going to take a chance," Nass told the crowd.

Dozens of people who had waited hours to speak leapt to their feet, shouting profanities. Nass called a vote on the bill over the din, but it was impossible to hear the roll over chants of "Shame!" Nass' office said later the vote was 3-1. Sen. Chris Larson, a Milwaukee Democrat, did not vote, instead accusing Nass of "wimping out."

Police escorted the three Republicans on the committee out of the room after the vote.

Service Employees International Union officials had planned to protest the hard stop at 7 p.m., but the effort was going to be peaceful, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin Vice President Bruce Colburn told reporters later.

"This is just an example of them taking away workers' voice," he said. "What they did here was an act of political cowardice."

The Senate was expected to take up the bill Wednesday afternoon. Throngs of union supporters migrated to the corridors outside the Senate chamber after the hearing ended Tuesday, chanting "Get up, get down, Madison's a union town" and "Hey-hey, ho-ho, right-to-work has got to go." The Senate was not in session.

All but one protester left without incident when Capitol Police closed the building at 8 p.m. Police led the remaining protester away in handcuffs after he refused to leave.

The breakdown at the hearing marked the culmination of a tense day at the Capitol. About 2,000 construction workers, electricians, carpenters and other union members rallied against the bill on the building's steps and in the rotunda around midday.

The gathering paled in size and intensity to protests four years ago when Republican Gov. Scott Walker pushed through his measure that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers. Those rallies lasted for weeks and grew as large as 100,000 people.

Right-to-work laws, in place in 24 states, prohibit private-sector companies from reaching labor agreements in which workers have to pay fees to the unions as a condition of employment. Indiana and Michigan were the two most recent states to pass such a law, in 2012, and right-to-work was also being debated this year in the New Mexico Legislature.

"We need to make Wisconsin more competitive and this certainly does that," Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, the bill's sponsor, testified in front of the labor committee.

Walker, a likely 2016 presidential candidate, has said right-to-work wasn't a priority and would be a distraction from his agenda that could lead to protests again that would hurt the state's economy. But on Friday the governor said he would sign the bill.

Opponents said the measure will lower worker pay and allow nonunion members to benefit from protections and benefits negotiated by the union. Unions have to represent both members and nonmembers in workplace grievances and in other situations.

The NFL Players Association issued a statement opposing it as well, saying right-to-work would hurt union workers at Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers play.

While union members were vowing to fight the measure and try to sway Republicans to vote against it, some were resigned to defeat given GOP majorities and Walker's support.